"It seems quite natural to me. You have every social advantage to offer a woman, and a presentable person; and my niece has youth, and some looks, and a large fortune. But we will say no more about it. I shall be glad to be of any service I can to you, anyway, in regard to your Canadian scheme. Come and dine to-night; I happen to have asked a couple of railway magnates with interests out there, and you can get some information from them."
And so it was arranged, and Lord Tancred got up to go; but just at the door he paused and said with a laugh:
"And shall I see the niece?"
The financier had his back turned, and so he permitted the flicker of a smile to come over his mouth as he answered:
"It might be; but we have dismissed the subject of the niece."
And so they parted.
At the sound of the closing of the door Mr. Markrute pressed the button of a wonderful trifle of Russian enamel and emeralds, which lay on his writing table, and a quiet servant entered the room.
"Tell the Countess Shulski I wish to speak to her here immediately, please," he said. "Ask her to descend at once."
But he had to walk up and down several times, and was growing impatient, before the door opened and a woman came slowly into the room.